About Hanging Bar Pendant Lights

Pendant lights are used to provide direct focus onto bar tables and counters.

Bar pendant lights are designed to provide light in both home and commercial settings. In both cases, they serve as mood lighting and for visibility directly over the bar section. Pendant lights are hung from the ceiling like chandeliers, where they hang down, often by several feet. Unlike chandeliers, they tend to be simple and provide down-facing light only for the bar.

Purpose

In commercial settings, pendant lights are used over pool tables and bars to provide immediate lighting on areas where visibility is important, without making the premises too bright or distracting other patrons. In homes, pendant lights serve a more aesthetic function, but still provide only limited light over a specific area. Because of their concentrated light features, the height at which pendant lights are hung is very important.

Height

Typical pendant light heights range from 30 to 40 inches above the surface they are illuminating. In some cases, such as pool tables, the height can be very specific and usually is around 36 inches. In other cases, such as kitchen islands or bar tables, the height is more flexible. Installers often measure and hang down strings to show the homeowner where the pendant lights will rest before installing them.

Clusters

Pendant-light clusters can range. Traditional pendant lights are set in clusters of three. In home settings, only one of these clusters is usually needed. Mini pendant lights are less than 12 inches long and may only have one or two bulbs. Small light sections range from 13 to 22 inches, while medium pendant sections are 23 to 30 inches long. It is unlikely a home would need pendant lights longer than 30 inches, but there are larger versions available.

Installation

Pendant lights should be installed in a place where wiring is available for a pendant light or chandelier. If this wiring does not exist, an electrician must create a mounting place on the ceiling for the light. Those installing pendant lights should work together, providing support and hanging the light by hand at several heights so that the overall look can be judged. Pendant lights require the installation of a fan brace, and not only the canopy but the electrical box that controls current are both bolted into the mounting hole.

Custom Work

Pendant-light height is relative. While certain heights look better than others, decisions depend largely on the homeowner and what height works best for his purposes. For an average person, a good rule of thumb is to position the bottom edge of the pendant light level with your nose. The light can be raised higher for other applications, especially cooking. There is no absolute rule governing height.

References

• Millennial Living: Buying and Determining Height for Kitchen Pendant Lights
• Residential Landscape Lighting & Design: Hanging Pendant Lights
• This Old House: How to Hang a Chandelier